That’s Crazy

1 Samuel 14:7 ESV

And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”

A young man standing before a giant. The story of Jonathan’s friend is memorable and pervasive. Yet, looking at Jonathan, I see why he and David were such fast friends. The Philistines had overrun the land. All Israel was scared and the enemy had set up fortified positions while the people of God hid. At this moment Jonathan speaks to his armor-bearer and asks him if he wants to pick a fight with the garrison of well supplied, technologically superior, Philistines, and he says yes!

“I am with you heart and soul”. Don’t even give it a second thought, I am with you 110%. This is easy to say when the goal is easy, reasonable, or not life threatening, what of when that is not true? When we are challenged to do these things “not because they are easy but because they are hard”, do we ask “how high”? Hearing his armor-bearer’s response, basically says, “We need to make this fair, no sneak attacks, lets do a frontal assault, let them choose if they want to fight hear or there, THEN we will attack!” I have to wonder if the armor-bearer started to wondering if maybe him and Jonathan were actually on the same page!

Last week I heard much about the Democratic National Convention, and was disheartened. This week I am preparing to hear much from the Republicans and am preparing to also be disheartened, call it my cynical nature. One thing I have learned in the last few months is that leadership is wanting at all levels of our society. How many of my leaders (School, Government, Church, Health…) do I trust “heart and soul” and am willing to follow in some crazy plan to give God all the glory?

Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed twenty men in the first assault. Then God decided to stop helping them and become even more personally involved. The earth started shaking. He through the invaders into a panic, drove his own people out of the holes they had hidden in, and into the battle. Routing the enemy and winning the day in dramatic fashion.

There is another place were a people is united “heart and soul” to a hopeless plan. Acts 4:32 says “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.” A Church dedicated to each other and the commission God had given him to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. United “heart and soul” they conquered nations, established churches, and one the day. God had to step in on numerous occasions but he was with them.

Let us pray the church will be united “heart and soul” that audacious and insane plans may be dreamed and executed. That his people will be able to say to “Do all that is in your heart.” Trusting that “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few”.

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” -Philippians 2:13

Coram Deo

Full Contact

1 Sam 10:22 ESV

So, they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

It was a small room, adjoining larger room in the basement of the church. We sat around a table appropriately sized for us with the flannelgraph up front and paper cutouts of men being moved around it. On this particular day we were learning about Saul, sized appropriately taller than everyone else. One of the teacher’s main points was to emphasize Saul’s humility, it was room full of overly confident boys, who needed a lesson on humility, after all. Not wanting the position but hiding amongst the baggage, scared he wasn’t up for the work, was what the teacher said. Unfortunately, this was not the case. He was prideful from the start. In his pride he rejected God’s Call and desired his own way instead. He had already been called and told by Samuel of his calling, he had already prophesied with the prophets, now he was choosing false humility, pride, and his way, instead of obedience to GOD’s Call on his life.

Of late one church has been front and center of the Covid-19 debate. Grace Community Church has caused quite a stir in Los Angeles, as it defies the county and state orders against holding indoor church services. Another Church located in the seat of our federal government has chosen to follow the city’s order and is only meeting outside. Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and they have not been meeting since the initial order was given and are only recently conducting outdoor meetings. So, which is the right direction for The Church to go?

You must understand The Church has been given a dangerous calling. The Calling of Salt. Called to preserve, flavor, and disinfect society. All aspects of this calling require one thing. Contact. The salt will not flavor when left in the shaker, the salt will not preserve if is not rubbed into the meat, and the wound will fester if salt is not applied to it. God requires that we continue to be salt, even in the midst of Covid-19. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Pastors and Elders of these two churches. “Which direction is right for THE CHURCH”, is a wrong question. It supposes that one overarching answer is right in Washington DC, Los Angeles, CA and in Lincoln, KS. The Church, in trying to answer that question, abandons the doctrine of local governance. Who is best equipped and positioned to evaluate a community, its needs and dangers, those close or those far away? The elders of each of those churches are wise, godly, and biblical men who have evaluated the needs of their Church and their community and rightly applied scripture such that their call is preserved.

We, as Christians, can not abdicate our responsibility to be Salt to others. The local body of believers can not hide in the baggage and let Grace Community Church or Capitol Hill Baptist Church decide for it. God has called and anointed Pastors and Elders to wisely decern direction. He has called and gifted each Christian, individually, to bless the church, local. By accepting the call of Christ, you must search the scriptures, evaluate the data, and seek counsel on how you can maintain contact. Every Christian has been given a call to contact. NONE are called to forsake the community and live in solitude. Salt is useless left in the shaker. Christians must find ways to maintain full contact with each other in person or not.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO

What’s in the Tank?

Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 21:13 ESV

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

How much is left in the tank? My high school football coach would always point to this near the end of the third quarter and going into the fourth. It is a question that pulls into almost all athletic events. As you come to the final “kick” at the end of the race and wonder if you have enough left. It is noted that Eric Liddle’s competition, in his Olympic run, assumed he couldn’t keep the pace up and were astonished when he just ran faster! Watching the time tic away and the race draw to a close, how much is left in the tank?

“But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find that you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself.”

-(C.S. Lewis, A Horse and His Boy)

The horse, in C.S. Lewis’ book A Horse and His Boy, couldn’t make himself continue. After years of slavery he thought he was done, his strength was spent and his advantage was wasted, yet the need was still great. The need for his strength and ability had not diminished, only his resolve. He looked and saw that he had nothing left in his tank. Then THE Lion came. Fear of death propelled him, pushed him, past his assumed limit. You see he not only had more in his tank, he had reserves far beyond what he thought. He had believed a lie.

I was blessed to listen to a sermon this Sunday from an old friend. It has stuck with me as I have been chewing on it. You see, I was a slave. A slave to a bitter and cruel master. Far crueler and far more bitter than any white slaver could ever be. As such I often evaluate my reserves wrongly. I think I have all I can handle. I think that I couldn’t possibly go another step. I believe I need to lighten up, take time away. I think and believe lies. About myself, what I can handle, how much recreation I need, and how much is left in the tank.

Paul worked hard. He was “poured out” for God. He trained whole communities on what hard work for the poor and for understanding the teaching of Christ. Coming to a final stop before Jerusalem he is told explicitly what he already knows, that prison and hardship await him. Yet, he does not look for easier times, or more fertile fields. He lets all know that his heart is set on having nothing left in the tank. He will not reach his end and have his “master find him idol.”

I do not know where you are in the race. I don’t know how much time is left. Yet, I know that I do not want to pass into eternity and find I had much left in the tank. Not because God will not let me in. For it is not on my strength or ability that my salvation rests, but on Christ. No, it is not fear but rather longing to do all I can for the Kingdom of the King I love.

Coram Deo  

Where have you been?

Jeremiah 16:10 ESV

“…Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?”

Sometimes I am afforded the opportunity to listen to people that are completely clueless. Something has occurred and it is plain to me why such events have befallen them. Having lived a portion of their lives with them and listen to their retelling of events, I must simply wonder if they are “all there”. What I saw and witnessed over the previous years led me to the conclusion it was only a matter of time, but some how the moment came as a complete surprise to those involved.

Such were the times that Israel found itself in. God had graciously overlooked so much and had finally come to the point of no return. Their punishment was certain and fixed, such that Jeremiah was told don’t marry and don’t have kids (Jeremiah 16:2). They would find themselves watching the temple destroyed, watching generations taken to be raised in Babylon, then watching again as what little hope was left was thrown into a cistern to decompose. On the run to Egypt they once again fall back into idolatry making cakes for “the queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 44:17) they simply are clueless to why, refusing to hear God’s clear answer and his clear rebuke.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long?” – Beach Boys

“Those were the best days of my life, oh yeah, back in the summer of 69.” – Bryan Adams

It seems man is never happy with his circumstances. When young he wishes to be old enough, when old he remembers better days. Few are they who rejoice in the days they are given. That rejoice in the God who sovereignly prepared them for the moment they are currently living through while simultaneously preparing them for greater and greater challenges, and glory. The Joy of Adulthood is forsaken as many bemoan the trials of Adulting, in favor of perpetual adolescence.

“These are not dark days, these are great days, the greatest days our country has ever lived.” Sir Winston Churchill

As the People of God come to our senses, like the prodigal looking at the pig’s slop, we must realize the truth, in our father’s house there is more than enough. Over the past few months, I have heard 2 Chronicles 7:14 recited in hope and solitude. Holding to the promise that “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray…then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Yet, like most skipping the part about seeking God’s face and turning from their wicked ways as covered above in the ellipsis.

I have little hope that this verse applies to the United States of America, simply because I see prayer meetings forsaken, and no change to the status quo, as more and more forsake Sunday Morning for other activities. These are not dark days however. These are great days. The greatest days I have ever seen. The Church has been given the overwhelming task of bringing the Gospel to a culture paralyzed by fear. God has given us the opportunity to speak hope and life to a society literally hiding in houses in fear of death.

How will you o’ Christian bring hope, light, and life into the darkness?

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO

Communication

Matthew 25:5 ESV

As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

It was summer in Englewood, and a baby wouldn’t stop crying. The parents would walk, taking turns, walking circles around the room. A few brief moments is all that would be afforded to the blissful sound of silence. Then she would wake and once again the laps would begin. Being summer in Englewood, Colorado the windows were open at night, the grandmotherly neighbor thought she could do better, told Kelly’s mom that she would handle it, “just go take a nap”. The neighbor soon gave up in dejected failure and gave her back to her mother. She had given my mother-in-law a good nap, but getting this colic-ee baby to sleep was also beyond her.

When you get a child that won’t sleep, you try anything. The slow hum of fan always running, may be the key to unlocking the mythical nights sleep. And so, it does, or it simply covers the child’s fusing. That slow hum of a fan quickly drowns out other noises and lulls children and adults alike into lethargic sleep.

As the Ten Virgins of Jesus’s parable waited, they ALL fell asleep. The cool night air, the beauty of the stars, the long day’s labor, all provided ample effect, and brought all of them to slumber, even the excitement of the moment could not keep them awake. Wise and foolish alike slept at this time. The difference only came when they were awakened. When they finally realized the moment was at hand and then the truth of who was wise and who was foolish became apparent. The fools would try as quickly as they could to make amends for their folly, but to no avail. The time was past and the bridegroom did not know them.

The ever-present beat of news, is taking its effect. Slowly and surly we are not hearing it anymore. The drone of the fan quickly becomes background noise, covering all those details we should pay attention to but don’t want to hear. Weather it be Fox or MSNBC the effect of constant supply has brought lethargy upon us. As barriers to communication are stripped away we are seeing the heights to which human beings are able to achieve, and we start to wonder what we aren’t capable of. Is there anything we can’t do given enough time?

That is not the first time that question has been asked. God, seeing the tower and noted that “nothing they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” (Genesis 11:6) Was it for their good that God hindered communication? Looking around at our current state, I am assured it is. As the constant communication has drowned out blessings. As the constant beat of news, has left no time to think, networks have had to put talking heads on to tell you what to think. Constant communication without a break. Requires a disruption.

As all of us have been lulled to sleep, it’s easier. It is hard work to think through the issues of the day, thinking biblically about these things. Yet, this is the work of the wise. To trim their lamps and given light in the evening, when light has gone out. To speak truth into the darkness.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO